Cycling in the Salzkammergut

Ischl became known as a holiday destination of European standing from the middle of the 19th century, when Emperor Franz Joseph began to spend the holidays in his summer residence in Ischl. In 1906, the small town in the heart of the Salzkammergut was awarded the title of "health resort". At the beginning of the trip, visit the famous Café Zauner and enjoy the delicious pastries of the region. The detailed travel documents are ready for you at the hotel.
(1 night in Bad Ischl)

At the start from Bad Ischl, down the Traun, you reach the Weißenbach valley in Mitterweißenbach, a scenic treat in the Salzkammergut. The cycle path through the wildly romantic mountain valley leads over long stretches through wooded area near the stream, which has largely retained its original bed. In the village of Weißenbach you come to the Attersee. Depending on your mood and condition, you could still circle the Attersee in the afternoon (approx. 50 kilometres). Due to its turquoise-blue colouring in summer, it is called the 'Sea of the Salzkammergut'.
(1 night in Weißenbach a. Attersee)
~19 km, altitude difference ascent 299 m / descent 289 m

The predominantly flat route to Mondsee runs via Unterach a. Attersee. On the western shore of Mondsee, the narrow road winds beautifully directly along the lakeshore. On the other side of the lake, the famous view opens up to the striking, steeply sloping Drachenwand, whose ridge marks the border between the provinces of Salzburg and Upper Austria. The route continues via St. Lorenz with a short ascent to the Scharflinger Höhe to Lake Wolfgang. The cycle path now leads over the picturesque Krottensee. Soon the Mozart town of St. Gilgen is reached. Below the road, the pretty little town with its villas and the birthplace of Mozart's mother nestles on the shore. On the lakeside cycle path of Lake Wolfgang, you go near the Blinklingmoor nature reserve to Strobl.
(2 nights at Lake Wolfgang).
~42 / 48 km, altitude difference ascent 594 m / descent 534 m

Enjoy the day off in the beautiful landscape at Lake Wolfgang. A visit to the famous pilgrimage site of St. Wolfgang, for example, is a good idea. During a stroll along Marketstreet, you will reach the magnificent pilgrimage church and the world-famous inn "Weißes Rößl", located directly on the lake. By the way, Austria's steepest cogwheel railway starts from St. Wolfgang to the panoramic Schafberg. From the almost 1,800-metre-high summit, a magnificent panorama opens up over other peaks and several lakes of the Salzkammergut.

With the first few kilometres, you can enjoy a bike tour on the old railway line of the Ischler Railway. From Weißenbach near Strobl, the route leads via Pfandl, where brine was boiled to get salt as early as the 12th century. Along the small river Ischl you soon reach the former imperial city, Bad Ischl. From here you follow the Traun to Ebensee. The Ebensee Bay on the southern shore of Lake Traun offers optimal conditions for water sports enthusiasts under sail in summer. It is a spectacle for the eye, like on Lake Garda with a special wind, to watch the many surfers perform their tricks. With a ship of the shipping company we now go across the lake to the inn "Hoisn". By bike you circle the north shore of the lake, experience Gmunden and follow the shore path to Traunkirchen, whose 1000-year-old monastery is beautifully situated on a peninsula, and on to Ebensee. Via Bad Ischl and following the Traun upstream, you reach today's stage destination Bad Goisern.
(1 night in Bad Goisern)
~76 km, altitude difference ascent 569 m / descent 644 m

The following section on the eastern shore of Lake Hallstatt, which is reminiscent of a Norwegian fjord, is unobstructed, the view of the Dachstein mountains including the glacier is fantastic and the route is spectacular. In Obertraun, there is the possibility of a detour to the idyllic village of Hallstatt on the other side of the lake, an almost perfect ensemble of narrow streets and historic houses.
At the southern end of the lake you come to the water-bearing Koppenbrüller stalactite cave, where the shady gorge-like Koppental begins. About halfway through the route, the climb up the pass road begins. The path leads over the Koppentretalm, the Koppenpass and down to the overnight stay in the brine spa Aussee.
(1 night in Bad Aussee)
~27 km, altitude difference ascent 535 m / descent 361 m

On the way back from Bad Aussee to Lake Hallstatt, you cross the border between the provinces of Styria and Upper Austria. Again you follow the Traun, refreshing lifeline of the Salzkammergut, which rises in the Totes Gebirge in Styria, to Lake Hallstatt and the east bank cycle path. Bad Goisern, an El Dorado for mountain bikers, is passed until Bad Ischl comes into view and with it the end of the cycle tour.
(1 night in Bad Ischl)
~35 km, altitude difference ascent 310 m / descent 490 m

For all those who want to spend even more time in the Salzkammergut, additional nights can be reserved. How about a trip to the Rettenbach Valley, which is rich in alpine pastures, followed by a gorge? If you prefer to be pampered, the thermal bath in Bad Ischl is recommended; here you can relax wonderfully.

Otherwise, today it is time to say goodbye to the Inner Salzkammergut.